Optimization of the Wet Mechanochemical Process Conditions of SrSO4 to SrCO3 and (NH4)2SO4 by Using Response Surface Methodology

The wet mechanochemical process was optimized for insoluble SrCO₃ and soluble (NH₄)₂SO₄ formation from celestite (SrSO₄)-(NH₄)₂CO₃-H₂O mixtures in a planetary ball mill by Box-Behnken design (BBD). The products formed during wet milling were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. For converting to SrCO₃ of celestite (SrSO₄) and to (NH₄)₂SO₄ of (NH₄)₂CO₃, a hydrometallurgical process optimization via the wet mechanochemical conversion using (NH₄)₂CO₃ was developed the first time in this work using response surface methodology. The wet mechanochemical conversion was carried out by varying ball to grinding material mass ratio, (NH₄)₂CO₃ to SrSO₄ mole ratio and the rotational speed of mill in a planetary mill. Under the optimum experimental conditions (9.24 of ball to grinding material mass ratio, 1.86 of (NH₄)₂CO₃ to SrSO₄ mole ratio and 400 rpm of the rotational speed of mill), the conversion of SrCO₃ was 99.08 pct. The (NH₄)₂SO₄ obtained as byproduct was crystallized.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(organophosphazene) composites

Poor solubility of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water and organic solvents offers a significant problem for their applications. Macromolecules can be suitable solubilizing agents and a structural component of composite materials for CNTs. Several polymers were tested for the preparation of CNT dispersions. In this study, a poly[(4-pyridineoxy)(phenoxy)phosphazene] (3) was prepared by sequential treatment of poly(dichlorophosphazene) (2) with sodium 4-pyridineoxy and sodium phenoxide in THF. Multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(organophosphazene) composites (f-MWCNT/PZS) with different feed ratios [R_feed = 1:1, 1:3, 1:5 and 1:10 (w/w)] were obtained by the treatment of the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT) with the protonated poly(organophosphazene) (PZS). Excellent dispersions of the f-MWCNT/PZS nanocomposites in water and common organic solvents were achieved. The influence of feed ratio on polymer coating and the stability of composites were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). f-MWCNT/PZS_1:5 nanocomposite was characterized by ³¹P, ¹H NMR, FTIR, XRD, EDX and Raman Spectroscopy. The morphologic characterizations of f-MWCNT/PZS_1:5 were carried out by HRTEM and SEM methods.     

The mechanical and dielectric properties of polypropylene reinforced with BiSr2CaCu2O6.5 ceramic

Polymer Bulletin - In this work, novel polypropylene/BiSr2CaCu2O6.5 (PP/Bi-1212) thick film composites having ceramic content varying between 0.5% and 6% were prepared to enhance both the...     

Towards psychology-aware preference construction in recommender systems: Overview and research issues

Journal of Intelligent Information Systems - User preferences are a crucial input needed by recommender systems to determine relevant items. In single-shot recommendation scenarios such as...     

Predictor–corrector for non-linear differential and integral equation with fractal–fractional operators

Engineering with Computers - Fractal–fractional differential and integral operators have been recognized recently as superior operators as they are able to depict physical problem with both...     

Aflatoxins in dairy cow feed,raw milk and milk products from Turkey

This study aims to detect aflatoxins (AFs) in dairy cow feed, milk and milk products using a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method. All the validation parameters met the method performance criteria of the European Union. The samples comprised 76 dairy cow feeds and 205 milk and milk products (including yoghurt and yoghurt-based beverage, ayran). AFs were present in 26.3% of the feed samples. Two feed samples exceeded the maximum limit (ML) of 5 µg kg^?1 for AFB₁ as established by the EU. Nineteen milk samples (21.1%) contained aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) of which three exceeded the EU ML of 0.05 µg l^?1. In addition, only two yoghurt samples and one ayran sample contained AFM₁, but the levels were lower than the EU ML.     

COx-free hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition over sepiolite-supported nickel catalysts

Sepiolite, a clay mineral, was utilized as a support for nickel-based catalysts for CO_x-free hydrogen production from ammonia decomposition. First, the physical and chemical properties of sepiolite were changed by calcining it at temperatures varying from 500 to 1000 °C, then nickel was impregnated on these calcined supports and tested for ammonia decomposition at various temperatures following reduction at 650 °C. Results indicated that even though the catalysts contained almost the same amount of nickel, they showed different hydrogen production performance. Detailed characterization of the catalysts before and after reaction illustrated that the support obtained by calcining sepiolite at 700 °C shows good basic properties with a high surface area offering a high degree of nickel dispersion. These properties lead to promising hydrogen production rates which are on par, if not higher, than most of the nickel-based catalysts prepared on supports, which are either not cheap or require tedious preparation procedures.     

Comparison of the efficacies of two different fiber post‐removal systems: A micro‐computed tomography study

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the efficacies of two different fiber post‐removal systems. Thirty extracted single‐rooted mandibular premolar teeth were used. After RelyX fiber posts were cemented, the teeth were divided into two groups with regard to the post removal techniques: ultrasonic vibration and D.T. Light‐Post removal kit. Residual material, tooth volume changes, working time and micro‐crack formation were assessed using micro‐computed tomography. All data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed‐rank and Mann–Whitney U tests. There was significantly more tooth root volume change in the ultrasonic group than removal kit group (p < .05). Fiber post removal time for the ultrasonic group was significantly longer than the removal kit group (p < .01).